03 Jul 2022

Sir Seretse Khama’s legacy lives on through the foundations of democracy and good governance that he set, minister for State President Mr Kabo Morwaeng said. 

He was speaking during the Sir Seretse Khama Day commemoration in Gaborone on Friday. 

Mr Morwaeng said Sir Seretse Khama was held in high regard among his peers in the sub region and beyond, many of whom appreciated his ideals from their interactions with him.

The occasion of Sir Seretse’s birthday was yet another opportunity to pay tribute to an iconic and reputable leader, who was instrumental in shaping Botswana’s progress toward attaining self-rule as well as mapping the country’s future, said the minister. 

Giving his account of the founding president, former ambassador and Sir Seretse Khama’s private secretary, Mr Legwaila Legwaila said, “Here we are today, 56 years later as a shining example of a nation that has not only cemented itself in the annals of human development and progress but has become an envy to many. Here and there credit goes to Sir Seretse Khama’s leadership in companion with those with whom he started the journey.” Mr Legwaila said Sir Seretse ‘followed principle with a heavy dose of realism and was brave and steadfast without being reckless'. 

“Sir Seretse Khama’s office where I started my public service career 50 years ago was the most de-tribalised place in government. His private office, he said, resembled a refugee camp as it was a mix of tribes. That was because Sir Seretse took pride in surrounding himself with people from various tribes. He felt safe having a presidential security detail composed of people from the so-called small tribes,” said Mr Legwaila. 

He added Sir Seretse was a nation builder, a unifier, the best that the country could have needed during its formative years. 

"He cared for people and his template of good governance, democracy, rule of law, among others, must remain intact for the sake of the nation and future generations", said Mr Legwaila. 

Working for and with Sir Seretse Khama was relatively a labour of love.

"One woke up every morning looking forward to go and work at his office, knowing that once's service was appreciated and that the working environment was most agreeable,  he said Mr Legwaila. ENDS